Westfield’s Safe-BAE started last year, and its progress can already be seen
Quinn Ferguson
Guest Writer
October 30, 2023
Photo courtesy of @whs.safebae Instagram
Showing their unwavering support - Members of Safe-BAE pledge to never commit an act of sexual violence or dating violence.
Safe-BAE has made it a mission to end dating violence in high school, and the club is working hard to reach its goal.
Safe-BAE (Before Anyone Else) is a national organization originating from Harvard that fights against dating violence with many different high schools across the nation. Westfield started its own chapter just last year, and its effects can already be seen. The club was started by senior and current President Ava Legeay after talking with her friends about dating violence.
“I quickly figured out that this was a huge problem, specifically in high school,” Legeay said. “When I was just looking for a name to call the club, I discovered this organization, and they actually organized club chapters at high schools around the nation, and I thought that this was just a perfect fit.”
This led Legeay to discover Safe-BAE, and they started the Westfield chapter in their junior year.
“When I was just looking for a name to call the club, I discovered this organization,” Legeay said. “They actually organized club chapters at high schools around the nation, and I thought that this was just a perfect fit.”
The high school has previously had discussions on dating violence, but they were very infrequent.
“One time we did a CORE activity, or a sixth-period activity, it was sixth period about safe dating habits or signs that your significant other is maybe a little too controlling,” club sponsor Erin Ondrusek said. “Mr. (Jake) Gilbert has talked to the football players and then he asked me to set something up from a woman’s perspective that he shared with them. I see things in - I mean it's adolescents and college; these are things we should be talking about that seem obvious that we should be talking about but we don't and then what happens because of that?”
Safe-BAE has monthly meetings, but their advocacy doesn’t stop there; they regularly attend events to educate more people about dating violence. This past weekend, they were at Westfield Pride and had a poster people could sign.
“So the poster, it was called ‘Survivor Love Letter’ and it was basically where anyone could write a note of encouragement to survivors of sexual or dating violence and you’d hang it up in the school,” sophomore officer Jordyn Standridge said.
Safe-BAE also sets up donations to try to help those who have been victims of dating violence.
“Right now, we’re actually doing a domestic violence shelter donation drive,” Legeay said.
Safe-BAE offers a safe place for both survivors of dating violence, and those who wish to learn more about it.
“If you’re looking for education, then this is a great place ‘cause we don’t really hold back,” Legeay said. “We do a lot of education, definitely. If you’re looking for more of a community, then I think Safe-BAE is a great place too. It’s just nice to be surrounded by people who have experiences similar to yours, and it just makes you feel a lot less alone, and, yeah, I think that Safe-BAE’s like the perfect place.”